JESUS quoted the Psalms more than any other book. There are 10 quotations or allusions in Matthew, 9 in John, 5 in Luke, and 4 in Mark.  That’s 29 total!

The majority of these quotations are in the context of Jesus’ kingship, his messiah-ship, his royalty, like

  • Psalm 110, “Sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool“ (110:1);

  • Psalm 118, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner” (118:22);

  • “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD” (118:26).

…but there’s also a lot of them that are in the context of his suffering and death.

1.) Matthew 27:46

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

This question comes straight from Psalm 22:1.

It’s the LIVING EMBODIMENT of “even if He doesn’t” faith…Our God WILL rescue us, but EVEN IF HE DOESN’T we will never bow down and worship you. (Shadrach…)

It’s the LIVING EMBODIMENT of “Though he slay me, yet I will trust Him” from the mouth of Job. 

2.) Luke 23:46

Even his very LAST WORDS (I learned this week) were a direct quotation from the book of Psalms!! Luke 23:46 says that Jesus said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”...WHICH IS ALMOST A VERBATIM QUOTE OF PSALM 31:5 (depending on what version you’re reading)!! “I entrust my spirit into your hand.”

Psalm 119:11 "Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee." 

Psalm 37:31 "The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide."

When we face temptations to sin…when we come up against crisis…what comes OUT of your spirit, is often a direct result of what GOES INTO your spirit!

If Jesus could trust the Psalms to help him articulate what He was feeling in his heart and soul…so can I.

3.) John 13:18

But this fulfills the Scripture that says, ‘The one who eats my food has turned against me.’

This phrase comes from Psalm 41:9, “Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely, the one who shared my food, has turned against me.“

Jesus knew that the entire Bible was about Him.

4.) Matthew 23:39

For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”

This phrase comes from Psalm 118:26, “Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord.

    We bless you from the house of the Lord.”

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